Tonneau cover from a '78 Ford F series works great

[Pearly72]

It may be sacrilegious to some, but not for me - especially for the money. I was looking to replace the beat up Tonneau cover that the PO put on my truck years and years ago. The brackets were installed backwards and it just wore it out over time. I bought one that came from a Ford truck.

Anyway, I was thinking of buying one... even at full price. My personal fave is the roll up concealed tonneau with bars in it. Had it on a newer GMC and loved it. A trifold isn't my favorite, but it's pretty handy too and a few bucks cheaper. Anyway, we have a craigslist type of site here in Utah, which is better than Craigslist in terms of searching.

I saw a gent that had a Trifecta 2.0 that was a year old that he was selling, due to the need of a toolbox in his 78 Ford F250 (pretty nice too). Anyway, they retail for $449 and he had it up for half that. After reading reviews, I contacted him and he provided measurements. Then, I went to check it out after measuring the exterior and interior perimeter of my longbed, then making sure there were no obstructions where I was going to secure it (4 locations).

I just thought I'd throw it out there for the ones looking for an alternative. Trifecta 2.0 does not make one for a 67-72 C10... at least not available on their site. But, they do for Ford. Attached are some pics.

[Boog]

Looks like it was made for it. Nice truck too.

[Astro-Balls]

So it folds up in three sections? or is it snapped around the perimeter?

[Killer Bee]

pretty slick!

You Tube

[67swb72klb]

Good to know..

[Pearly72]

Thanks Boog! And yes, as the video shows, it's a tri-fold. Not my first choice, but for more than half less than i was going to spend - I'll take it. My old "hook on rail" one either had to be on or off, no in between and it was a bear to store (couldn't fold).

[dmjlambert]

That is really nice, Pearly72. I am amazed. Do the hold down clips work on our Chevy truck beds without modification?

[tdangle]

I went to their website. Very interested. Their listing goes back to 73, 1st year of the square body. Different part number from the 78 Ford part number. I wonder what the difference is? Are the bed rail measurements the same for 67-72 and square body trucks? I'm thinking of calling them next week with some questions. Wife says happy fathers day, so purchase is approved.

[Pearly72]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

That is really nice, Pearly72. I am amazed. Do the hold down clips work on our Chevy truck beds without modification?

Attachment 2024262

Attachment 2024263

No modifications at all for my long bed. If there were any needed, i may not have taken the risk and spent the money for one that was made for it. I got lucky.

[Pearly72]

Originally Posted by tdangle

I went to their website. Very interested. Their listing goes back to 73, 1st year of the square body. Different part number from the 78 Ford part number. I wonder what the difference is? Are the bed rail measurements the same for 67-72 and square body trucks? I'm thinking of calling them next week with some questions. Wife says happy fathers day, so purchase is approved.

I saw the same on the Trifecta website and even on autoanything.com about the 1973 C10s. The seller had basic measurements of the length and width, which piqued my curiosity. I measured everywhere that mattered, along with a good idea of where the permanent 2 clamps up front and the back latch clamps at the back. When i had an educated calculation, i met up with the seller and measured in more detail. When i got it home, it was easy and i was relieved. I can speak for the long bed... Don't know about a short bed though. I can say that it is about 1/2" wider than our bed widths, but i hardly notice it -- especially from 10' away. I am picky... And it doesn't bother me. Lengthwise... Perfect in my opinion.
ALSO, the rubber strips that seal the perimeter are lined up and seal the bed pretty good.

You may want to measure a 73-78 chev and maybe it'll fit better than the Ford one (if you're gonna pay for a brand new one) I got it for less than half the price new and it was in excellent condition. I figured it was worth a shot with a 1/2" overhang... But, it doesn't even bother me.

On a side not, i was looking at my friend's 2011 Silverado tonight and his camper shell he got for his Silverado had more noticeable overhang than my cover and it was made for a Silverado.

And I'm not sure if the 67-72 all have the same measurements. I want to say yes, but I don't want to steer you wrong on that.

[special-K]

It's not sacrilegious. It's not a part 'from' Ford, it's a part 'for' Ford. One for a Dodge or International would probably fit, too. Wide beds were always the same size up until GM tapered them in '88. You never had to worry what truck a cap/topper/canopy, ladder racks, or anything made to fit a pickup bed well enough. Same went for Stepsides. There used to be actual standards with trucks that made life a lot easier for those who used trucks as trucks. All that stuff went truck to truck no matter what brand you bought.

[notsolo]

Thanks for sharing and doing all the research, Looks great on your truck...is there a gap at the tailgate?

[Pearly72]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Thanks for sharing and doing all the research, Looks great on your truck...is there a gap at the tailgate?

Thank you My tailgate is slightly dented in about 1'' on the driver side half. Next year's project. However, the rubber seal underneath is still sealing on the tailgate. Not that it matters for now, because i don't drive it in wet weather unless necessary... Until i spray the under carriage with a protective coat. Gotta keep it clean... My 2.5 yo son has dibs on in - gotta preserve it

[notsolo]

Got some dents in the top of my gate also, was thinking tailgate topper... just finished spraying some "RUSFRE" under coating on my long bed went on good with schultz gun, $32 gallon delivered. Best bang for the buck.

[Pearly72]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Got some dents in the top of my gate also, was thinking tailgate topper... just finished spraying some "RUSFRE" under coating on my long bed went on good with schultz gun, $32 gallon delivered. Best bang for the buck.

Nice!!!! I was thinking about a tailgate topper too, but the dents would show below the line.

[jamie72]

very nice, i have been looking for something like this, would you happen to have the part number?

[Pearly72]

Originally Posted by jamie72

very nice, i have been looking for something like this, would you happen to have the part number?

#92515, here's the link.

https://extang.com/trifecta-2-0/1978/ford/f-250

[Daaaanz67]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Got some dents in the top of my gate also, was thinking tailgate topper... just finished spraying some "RUSFRE" under coating on my long bed went on good with schultz gun, $32 gallon delivered. Best bang for the buck.

Great info. What is this stuff Rusfre? Do you have link?

[samkost]

Pearly72,
I have sent you a PM with questions regarding the tonneau.
Thanks, Sam

[dmjlambert]

I kind of like it, secret "under cover" questions. The rest of you don't need to know. Ha ha!

[70cst]

Great info

Thanks

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by special-K

It's not sacrilegious. It's not a part 'from' Ford, it's a part 'for' Ford. One for a Dodge or International would probably fit, too. Wide beds were always the same size up until GM tapered them in '88. You never had to worry what truck a cap/topper/canopy, ladder racks, or anything made to fit a pickup bed well enough. Same went for Stepsides. There used to be actual standards with trucks that made life a lot easier for those who used trucks as trucks. All that stuff went truck to truck no matter what brand you bought.

Dodge also tappered them down in the 90s. I put a dodge topper on my 71 and fit ok up frount but was about to fall in in the back. I now have a square body topper on now and it just a little wide. It fits bit over hages a bit on each side. The ones for our pickups fit fluse on the sides and are a tad bit shorter in hight wise.

[samkost]

Hmmmm, I really am interested in one of these.
FYI, I just received some information from the factory on their bed covers.

Unfortunately, they do not carry 1967 to 1972 C10 covers.

I called a factory rep and got some specifications/dimensions for their other year tonneau's.

Here are the dimensions they (factory) specified:

1975 to 1987 C10's are width tapered slightly.
70.75" Width @ (Front Box)
70.50" Width @ (Tailgate)
99" Bed Length

My 1972 Longbox tape measurements:
99.50" Length
71" Width

Original post by Pearl72 stated he had aproximately .50"overhang on the Width of his bed.
1978 Ford 8 ft Longbox tonneau factory dimensions:
99.50" Length
71.25" Width

What I like is that the stake pockets are fully covered and protected.
The 1978 Ford tonneau might be the closest fit on our C10's.

FYI, I also found this site for truck bed dimensions:
https://raybuck.com/pickup-truck-bed-size-dimensions/

Now to decide and pull the string?

Sam